Shoe stretcher



V. A. KASIN SHOE STRETCHER- July 28, 1936.

Filed March 21, 1935 Patented July 28, 1936 entree STATE- vention is designed to s PATENT crates SHOE STRETOHER;

Vincent A. Basin, Houston, Tex. Application March 21, 1935, Serial No. 12,287

'1 Claims. (01. 12-1285) The portable shoe stretcher of the present ininclude the many advantages of the stationary stretchers, yet providing a more compact, simpler and less expensive structure.

In shoe stretchers, both stationary and portable, it has been found desirable to utilize toggles as the connecting medium between the power shaft and stretching heads to render the latter articulate so as to complement varying contours found in different style shoes. It has been found that unless restrained the toggles permit too much freedom of movement or unequalized movement of the pivoted stretcher heads or elements with corresponding distortion In the present invention, toggle action which, however, vent independent movement ments or heads.

The stretcher of this of the shoes stretched. I retain the desirable is restrained to preof the stretcher eleinvention may be used on both high and low heel shoes and is positively operated throughout the full extent of its expansion, eliminating loose play or lost motion and insuring uniform stretching of the entire area The stretcher of my by a novel connection and toggles to effect eration and likewise connection.

0 impinged by the stretcher.

invention is characterized between the power shaft compactness and smooth opprevent shearing of the A further object of the invention is to provide a stretcher incapable of over expansion or contraction by reason of stop means forming an inherent part of the stretcher which confines the expansion and contraction to well defined limits.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing herein:-

Fig. l is an elevational view of a shoe stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention, the stretching semiexpanded position.

heads being shown in a Fig. 2 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view of the stretcher showing one of the stretcher heads in side elevation and illustrating the manner of engaging the power shaft with the shaft bearing blocks.

Fig. 3 is a detailed enlarged fragmentary transverse view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating to advantage the manner of uniting the toggle links with the stretching heads and with the terminal bearing block of the power shaft.

tical sectional view of the stretcher showing the power shaft in side elevation and illustrating the manner of engaging the power shaft with the stretcher heads through the medium of the toggle links.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the toggle links and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the locking pins used for uniting the toggle link to the power shaft.

The shoe stretcher of the present invention includes a shaft I, hereinafter referred to as the power shaft which may be of any desired shape or size. In the present instance, the shaft is shown to be circular in cross section throughout its length, one terminal 8 thereof being reduced. The opposite end of the shaft has a handle 9 mounted thereon and fixedly secured thereto. The portion of the shaft adjacent the inner end of, the handle is threaded as indicated at Ill, the threads extending inwardly on the shaft for a short distance.

The shaft 1 is equipped with a pair of bearing blocks lone of which, designated l l hereinafter referred to as the terminal bearing bloclc is sleeved on the reduced end 8 of the shaft 1. The other bearing block designated l2, hereinafter referred to as the intermediate bearing block, is provided with a threaded bore which complements the threads IU of the shaft and is engaged therewith. I

The terminalbearing-block H is adapted for pivotal engagement with a pair of toggle links l3 of especial construction. Each link is preferably formed from a single sheet of metal being of U- 5 shape in cross section having the terminals thereof rounded as indicated at M, and the sides provided with opening I5 adjacent each end of each link. The openings at one end of each link are adapted for the reception of the ends of a bearing pin It, by which the links are united to the shaft in a manner more fully hereinafter described. The openings at the opposite ends of each link receive a pin ll, the terminal of the latter projecting beyond the sides of the link. Each of the pins I6 is provided with an intermediate semicircular recess [8 which complements the reduced portion 8 of the shaft 1 and is adapted for snug engagement therewith. As'shown to advantage in Fig. 4 of the drawing, a series of washers l9 are first engaged with the reduced portion 8 of the power shaft after which the bearing block I I carrying the pins I6 is sleeved on said reduced end. Another series of washers is then urged into engagement with the block I l,the entire assembly being secured from displacement by a locking bolt 20. Preferably, alternate washers l9 are made of different material to reduce Wear to a minimum.

The stretching elements of the present invention consist of twin heads 2| preferably of a shape conforming to the contour of the inside of a shoe, each head having a longitudinally extending recess therein, in which is mounted one end of a channel bar 22. The opposite end of each channel bar is pivotally engaged with the bearing block l2. The portions of the channel blocks lying with the heads 2| are provided with openings in which the extended ends of the pin ll are mounted.

It will be noted, especially upon reference of Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the heads 2| are incapable of any independent movement and must move in unison under the influence of the shaft 1 when the latter is rotated by the application of power to the handle 9. Because of the peculiar construction of toggle links l3, pin l6 and the channel bars 22, it is possible to bring the heads substantially together. From this point the heads may be expanded until the toggle links H are in longitudinal alinement. It is to be noted that in the use of'this device there cannot be no movement of the heads until the handle 9 is rotated. When this action takes place the shaft 1 is, of course, correspondingly rotated and the intermediate b-lock I 2 is fed on the threads It! to eflect lateral displacement of the links l3. Over contraction of the stretcher is prevented by reason of the fact that the handle 9 serves as an abutment against which the block 12 engages. Qver expansion of the stretcher is prevented since the extent of the threads I!) determine the safety limits of expansion of the stretcher. It is, of course, understood that the heads 2| may be made of wood or other suitablematerial and are reinforced by the channel bars 22, the latter absorbing all the stress applied by the power shaft.

While I have herein described what I regard is a preferred form of my invention, nevertheless various changes may be made in the claims h'ereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe stretcher including 'a power shaft equipped with nonpivoted heads indirectly connected to an intermediate portion and one terminal of the shaft, said heads being relativelymovable in response to rotation of the shaft.

2. A shoe stretcher including a shaft equipped with bearing blocks, channel members engaged with said blocks and movable upon rotation of said shaft to expand and contract whereby said members are expanded and contracted at one 5 end, and stretching heads carried by and rigid with the expanding and contracting ends of said members.

3. A shoe stretcher including elongated bars, each of which has a stretcher head rigidly secured to one end thereof, and a shaft mounted between said bars and movably connected to the latter for relatively moving said heads upon rotation of the shaft.

- 4. A shoe stretcher including a pair of stretch- 15 ing heads, a pair of reinforcing bars each of which has one end inserted in and rigidly secured to a stretching head, the opposite end of each bar extended appreciably beyond the head, a rotatable shaft mounted between said bars with one end thereof engaged with the head-inserted portions of the bars, an intermediate portion of the shaftbeingoperatively coupled with the opposite ends -of 'thebars'to' effect relative movement of said heads when the shaftis rotated.

5; A shoe stretcher including a power shaft, a travellerthreadedlyengaged with one end of the shaft, a bearing block sleeved on the opposite end of said shaft, a pair of arms pivotally connected at one to thetraveller, stretcher heads rigidly secured to the free end of said arms and a pivoted link connection between the last named ends of the arms and'the bearing block.

. 6. In ashoestretcher, a power shaft having a traveller mounted'on one end thereof for limited axial. movement relative to the shaft, a bearing block fixed on the opposite end of the shaft, arms pivotally connected to the traveller, stretcher headsrigidly secured to each of said arms, and a link: pivotally'connecting each of the arms to the bearing; block. 7

7-. A- shoe stretcher comprising a pair of elongated a'rms pivotally connected together at one end, stretcher heads carried by said arms, and rigidly secured: thereto, to prevent movement of said headsindependently of the arms, and means disposed between the arms to expand and contract the same at their head-equipped ends.

5O VINCENT A. KASIN. 

